Saul Niguez tactical overview and analysis.

Saúl Ñíguez Esclápez.

Saul's analysis with respect to fc barcelona's perspective. The advantages barca would have with Saul's arrival. 

If koeman wants a b2b, he might have had thought about the ways to use him as well, irrespective of the formation There's no harm in starting 2 b2b ahead of busi when you have weak pressers like leo, aguero and depay upfront. Plus there's always a chance of proper rotation and lesser chances of fatigue in every player on the sqaud. If saul comes in, not only does he help us maintain our shape while leo drifts in, he can be a like for like replacement for frenkie as well as his partner in a double pivot. The advantages and possibilities are endless, Idk how people think we're good to go with 3 fixed starters that too for the whole season. I'm afraid to say the rate pedri is going with, he's bound to have a serious injury and then there'll be noone to cover for himAnd if that doesn't happen He'll just drop his game by the end of the season when it's most crucial. We'll suffer massively in defensive areas and then people would cry that our defense is shit when actually the midfield and the attack are incompetent in maintaining sufficient pressure in the first place.

Saul Niguez tactical overview.

Probably simeone's most versatile player in his current squad, and yes that includes marcos Llorente too. The 26yo Spaniard has played in a variety of positions all over the pitch since his debut with Atlético. These include, an interior in a 433, a holding midfielder in a 442, widest left midfielder in a 442, most offensive midfielder in a 4231 and a 3412, as a right winger in a 433 and 343, as a second striker in a 442 and even as a left back in the 2018 season when atleti incurred many defensive injuries. There's a reason why simeone trusted saul up until this season (his worst) even over the likes of veterans like koke and gabi (atleti's legendary midfielder) and that's because of his versatility and above that efficiency to play in every role equally and quite impressively. 

When he has the ball while being, at the same time, behind the opponent’s first defensive line, he often tries to use one of his partners as “relay point”. He generally, looks for forwards who came in support and attract defenders so he can make a one-two movement or create triangles to progress into released space. Generally, the forward passes are followed by runs. This could remind you of some of Lionel Messi’s signature moves. The Argentinean tries often to make, sometimes forces, one-two movements. The classic one-two with Alba is maybe the best-known. In short, he's a very progressive midfielder and always looks for solutions by running with the ball, instead of positioning himself in spaces like pedri or puig do. Thats not necessarily a good/bad thing just like the latter isn't, it's all about the profiles that compliment each other while playing alongside each other. For example, saul just like de jong can initiate the buildup play from deep by dribbling his way through and finding players like leo/pedri in pockets of spaces and then continuing his runs towards the box to provide an extra passing lane/ body in the box to attack the final ball. A mixture of de jong's runs and vidal's tenacity and aggression coupled with on par workrates compared to the likes of locatelli/rakitic. He sounds ridiculous on paper and there's absolutely no reason to believe otherwise. 

Saul also despite his shorter physique is one of atleti's long balls targets, winning aerial duels only next to Costa when he played in Spain. Him as a b2b alongside pedri and busi is the best formation that'll suit all 3 players especially along low blocks. In a 433, saul with his preferred left foot can easily play behind leo as the RCM, occupying wider right flanks when leo drifts in to maintain the shape as well as giving dest/Emerson some much needed offensive and defensive relief, something which frenkie isn't able to do at the moment.

Another option might be rotating him with pedri and playing both de jong and saul together ahead of busi similar to a madridesque midfield. This setup helps to relieve the narrow forwards like depay and messi and helps them to bomb the half spaces near the box even more without compromising on the defensive structure of the team. Saul can also play as a double pivot with frenkie constantly interchange heights on the field and they both can cover for each other simultaneously both in attack and in defense, something gini wijnaldum could've also done and probably the role koeman prefers in his 4231. And to top it all of, saul can even play as the 10 if needed but that's just a cherry on the cake and an unnecessary luxury imo.

A midfielder, who is able to pass, tackle and run with the ball is a necessity for every top-flight team. If he can save the day with a long-range shot, as Saúl did at several times, it’s even better. For the first time in my reviews i dont have any particular weakness for this player except his positional issues which are majorly due to him being played in a defensive team and his lack of form in the last season.

And yet it will be completely foolish to consider this deal as a loss for us where we are giving away a 30 years old player who would definitely not have any role in our team as we have Lionel Messi as the starter ofcourse and the promotion of Alex Collado from the b team makes it more difficult. With a 26 years old midfield who would bring great physicality in our midfield and help rest our starters. Saul is a complete midfielder, great at pressing, defensive and ofcourse at attacking as well. In my perspective this deal is worth every penny only if we are getting some Cash with the swap.